ONE of the world's greatest choral ensembles will be performing in Basingstoke, bringing a special festive programme.

The Sixteen, which thrills and delights audiences around the world, will be at The Anvil on Wednesday, November 29.

The Christmas programme includes a feast of carols and seasonal choral music, from Hildegard of Bingen to Morten Lauridsen. Favourite traditional versions, stunningly beautiful Tudor and Renaissance works and modern settings are combined in a ravishing and satisfying evening of music.

READ MORE: Join Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden to perform at The Haymarket

Basingstoke Gazette: The Sixteen: Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610

Harry Christophers, who founded The Sixteen over 40 years ago, stands among today’s great champions of choral music. In partnership with The Sixteen, he has set benchmark standards for the performance of everything from late medieval polyphony to important new works by contemporary composers.

Under his leadership, The Sixteen has established its hugely successful annual Choral Pilgrimage, created the Sacred Music series for BBC television, and developed a renowned period instrument orchestra.

Highlights of their recent work include an Artist Residency at Wigmore Hall, a large tour of Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, the world premiere of Sir James MacMillan’s Stabat mater, including a live-streamed performance from the Sistine Chapel and the world premiere of his Fifth Symphony at the 2019 Edinburgh International Festival. 

Harry Christophers has served as artistic director of the Handel and Haydn Society for the past 13 years and has just been appointed their Conductor Laureate. He has worked as a guest conductor with, among others, the London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and the Deutsches Kammerphilharmonie.

SEE ALSO: Cliff Richard's Blue Sapphire tour being shown at Basingstoke Vue

He was also awarded a CBE in the Queen’s 2012 Birthday Honours list. He is an Honorary Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, as well as the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and has Honorary Doctorates in Music from the Universities of Leicester, Canterbury Christ Church, Northumbria and Kent.  In 2020 he was made President of the Cathedral Music Trust.

Away from the recording studio, he has recently collaborated with BBC Radio 3 presenter Sara Mohr Pietsch to produce a book entitled A New Heaven: Choral Conversations in celebration of the group’s 40th anniversary.

Contact the Anvil Arts box office on 01256 844244 or visit anvilarts.org.uk.